APSE

Sports copy editor

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:10:04 +0000

The Roanoke Times is looking for a versatile copy editor to join its night editing desk. We need someone who has a demonstrated knowledge of sports – and relishes editing sports content — but is also comfortable editing a government story or writing a music review headline.   This position has a sports-editing focus but our universal desk editors handle copy and design for all sections — news, sports and features. Strong candidates will be able to communicate effectively and compromise with reporters, line editors and other copy editors to make reader-centered decisions about content and packaging.

The ideal candidate will be an agile thinker, have keen news judgment, understand the value of compiling sports agate and feel comfortable taking a call from a high school coach and writing up a game summary. We're looking for someone who is collegial and collaborative and who won't be constrained by a title. While copy editing daily, advance and online copy is the heart of this job, also important is the willingness to learn — often and quickly — the skills needed to deliver news to our readers where they are and package it appropriately, whether it's for print, the web or a mobile device. The person in this position will need to become proficient in our print publishing system as well as our online content management system and how the two work together to produce the daily online report and breaking news.

Weekend and holiday work are a regular part of this job.

Essential duties and responsibilities

•    Edit sports, news and features copy and write display type in accordance with AP style, the stylebook of The Roanoke Times, and Webster's New World Fourth Edition. (An editing test will be required.)
•    Update roanoke.com as news breaks/stories develop and in a maintenance capacity to shepherd the posting of the print report to the website.
•    Deliver news, information, stories, updates and other forms of coverage to our community via Twitter, Facebook, blogs, e-mail updates, text message, breaking-news e-mail and any other platform we employ in the future.
•    Stay current on our coverage, that of the competition, and the big headlines from national and international news.
•    Answer phones and compile game summaries and sports agate as needed.

Required Skills

•    Bachelor's degree
•    Experience copy editing on a daily news deadline.
•    Knowledge of sports and sports editing style.
•    Proven ability to write clearly, tightly and accurately — for headlines, cutlines, promos, briefs, updates, write-throughs, tweets, text messages and more — and to meet tight deadlines doing so.
•    A visual eye and a sense of what's missing, what's needed and how the pieces of a package work together.
•    Ability to be decisive and to adapt quickly and comfortably to change.
•    Curiosity, creativity, enthusiasm and interest in new technology and finding ways to improve our strategies.
•    Experience with Adobe InCopy and InDesign as well as Internet content management systems is a plus.

All candidates must apply online at www.jobs.roanoke.com. E-mail questions to michael.stowe@roanoke.com

Agenda set for Northeast Region meeting on May 14

admin — Sun, 13 May 2012 21:30:35 +0000

By Hank Winnicki

Assistant Managing Editor/Sports, Newsday

Chair, APSE Northeast Region

The agenda has been set for the APSE Northeast Regional meeting in Boston.

Here are the details:

When: Monday, May 14 at 9:15 a.m.

Where: The Boston Globe

135 William T Morrissey Blvd.

Dorchester, MA 02125

Parking: Free parking is available (Go past the Globe building on Morrissey Blvd. to the third entrance. Tell the guard you are there for APSE and park as directed. Walk back to the front of the building to the main entrance)

The agenda:

9:30 to 10:45: Guide to Smart Phones — The Boston Globe's multimedia editor Ed Medina and Newsday's sports cross media editor Mark La Monica discuss how smart phones can be better used for news gathering across all platforms. Tips on video, audio and the use of tablets.

11 to 12:15: Covering the Beat — Al Vieira, AME at the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin, leads a discussion on the challenges facing the beat writer. Panelists include Pete Thamel, who covers college sports for the New York Times, Geoff Baker, who covers the Mariners for the Seattle Times, and Scott Lauber, who covers the Red Sox for the Boston Herald.

Lunch from 12:15 to 1:15. There is a cafeteria on the premises.

1:15 to 2:30: The Red Sox collapse (aka The Beer and Fried Chicken story) – Boston Globe investigative reporter Bob Hohler and Boston Globe assistant sports editor Scott Thurston discuss the ASPE-award winning story that is still making headlines.

2:45 to 3:45: Fantasy Sports – New York Daily News Sunday sports editor Eric Barrow talks about how the News is taking a different approach to fantasy sports, producing special sections and daily content to better serve its readers.

3:45 to 4:15: Best Ideas – Editors are encouraged to bring recent examples of the their work to share with the group.

4:15 to 4:30: Business meeting

For questions, please contact Hank Winnicki at 631-843-4832 or Hank.Winnicki@newsday.com.

2012 summer conference activities include White Sox baseball, 5K run and now 3-on-3 hoops

Tim Stephens — Thu, 10 May 2012 04:35:08 +0000

Registration continues for the 2012 APSE summer conference, set for June 20-23 in Chicago.

You can read all about the plans for our first joint convention with AWSM by clicking this link here.

In addition to sessions, the Red Smith Award luncheon honoring Frank Deford and much more amid all the Chicago culture, we aren't leaving out a little fun and games on Saturday, June 23, before we hand out the awards.

– The APSE 5K has quickly become a fixture at APSE events For some, it's a chance to show off their competitive running skills. For others, it has become the motivation for even bigger things (read here about the life-changing transformation of Philadelphia Inquirer sports editor John Quinn).

– 1st Vice President Gerry Ahern says an inaugural APSE 3-on-3 basketball tournament is in the works. An indoor court has been secured and several players have already signed up. If you'd like to play, e-mail Ahern at gahern@usatoday.com

– A tennis tournament has also been discussed as possibility for Saturday as well. More to come on that.

If you'd rather leave the sports entertainment to the pros, there is a great deal offered on a night at the ballpark to watch the Chicago White Sox play the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night. The deadline to purchase tickets extended until Tuesday, May 15

Tickets are $26 each. The White Sox also offer a Patio Party — $63 ($42 for the Patio ticket and a reduced baseball ticket of $21).

If you want tickets to either, please do two things:

1. Email Jack Berninger at jackapse@aol.com and let him know how many you want and whether you want regular or patio tickets;

2. Make your check out to APSE for the appropriate amount and send them to:

APSE

PO Box 29743

Richmond, VA 23242

HOTEL RESERVATION DEADLINE IS MAY 25

To make reservations at the Downtown Chicago Marriott, go to this link:

https://resweb.passkey.com/Resweb.do?mode=welcome_ei_new&eventID=8772456

Our price is $199 per night. Reservation deadline is May 25 at 5 p.m.

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

To register for the June 20-23 APSE/AWSM conference in Chicago, go to the following link:

http://apsportseditors.org/convention-registration/

The registration fee is $225 through June 1, $275 thereafter.

Senior Editor

admin — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:32:46 +0000

Senior Editor – ESPN.com

The Senior Editor is a managerial job overseeing the editorial operations for

College Football on ESPN.com. This role includes strategic and tactical

planning, coordination of content among multiple sources, and vision and

direction for all related products.

Responsibilities

This role directs staff editors and writers, freelancers and independent

contractors, as well as assigns, edits and posts daily content. This position

requires a passion for and in-depth knowledge of college football, and the

ESPN.com audience, with extensive background in the content creation and

management process. This person will also help coordinate and integrate relevant

coverage with ESPN's multiple entities, including but not limited to TV

production, mobile, The Magazine and Insider. The Senior Editor will work to

expand and make coverage more comprehensive, using various platforms, including

video, audio and interactivity. This editor will be responsible for ensuring

that all content meets established tone, theme, accuracy, style and consistency

requirements. In addition, the Senior Editor will work with the Deputy

Editor/College Sports, in coordination with Sales & Marketing, to help identify

and develop content with sponsorship potential.

Basic Qualifications

Typically 6-8 years of editorial and reporting experience; Strong leadership and

communication skills, and experience managing or supervising a cross-functional

team; Ability to follow and shape stories at various stages of development using

various means of presentation; Advanced news journalism experience and news

judgment; understands assigned sport from a journalistic point of view;

Excellent English grammar and organizational skills; Knowledge of college

football, as well as athletes, coaches, league operations and the like

Preferred Qualifications

Understanding of HTML and related web-authoring tools and software; Familiarity

with most major Internet search engines and fluency in electronic newsgathering

techniques; Appreciation of popular culture, and understanding of the tastes of

ESPN's audiences.

Preferred Education

Bachelor's degree or higher preferred in journalism, communications or a related

field

Contact: David Albright, Senior Director/Managing Editor, david.albright@espn.com

To apply: http://jobs.espncareers.com/connecticut/digital-media/jobid2372039-senior-editor-jobs

It’s time to enter APSE Southwest Region writing contest

admin — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:16:27 +0000

By Keith Campbell

Deputy Sports Editor, Dallas Morning News

Chair, APSE Southwest Region

I’m pleased to announce the 2012 annual writing contest for the Southwest Region of the APSE as well as the dates and location of our regional meeting.

As in past years, we don't charge for this contest nor do we require APSE membership for you to enter. And we’d be happy to have non-members join the organization.

Following are the contest rules.

Entries must be postmarked by end of the day Friday, June 1. This is a contest for your 2011 work. The awards for the regional contest will be handed out at the San Antonio meeting.

Divisions:

* 125,000 and above

* 20,000 to 125,000

* Under 20,000

Categories:

* Feature writing

* Beat writing

* Enterprise/project

* Event coverage

* Column writing

* Headline writing

* Daily/Sunday section fronts

* Special sections

A newspaper may have a total of three entries (no more than one per writer) in each writing category. No article can be entered in more than one category. One enterprise-project entry (single article or series) will be accepted. In the column writing category, each entry will consist of three columns by one writer; so three entries would consist of nine columns by three writers.

Three section-front entries will be accepted from one or more layout persons for each of the two section-front categories.

Rules for writing divisions:

* Entries must be submitted on 8.5×11 sheets of paper. No folding, multiple sheets should be stapled in the upper left-hand corner.

* Please remove all headlines, bylines, graphics, etc.

* Electronic archive copies will be accepted.

* Submissions for all writing entries in each category should be accompanied by a separate enclosure on newspaper letterhead listing the paper's numbered entry and the name of each writer (Feature 1, John Smith, etc.).

* At the top right-hand corner of each entry, list the writing category (Feature story, column writing, etc), the circulation class (under 20,000, etc.) the paper's numbered entry (Column 1, Feature 2, etc.) and the date of publication.

Rules for headline entries:

* Submit entries on an 8.5×11 sheets of paper with accompanying story (the whole story doesn't have to be on the page; just enough to help judges know what the headline is about).

* Submissions for all headline writing entries should be accompanied by a separate enclosure on newspaper letterhead listing the numbered entry (Headline 1, Headline 2, Headline 3), the text of each headline and the name of the person who wrote each headline and the date of publication.

* At the top right-hand corner of each entry, list the writing division (Headline writing), the circulation category (under 20,000, etc.) your paper's numbered entry (Headline 1, Headline 2, etc.) and the date of publication.

Rules for section-front entries:

* Submissions are simply full-page tear sheets.

* Submissions for all section-front entries should be accompanied by a separate enclosure on newspaper letterhead listing the paper's entries and the person or persons who designed them and the date of publication.

* Unlike the national contest, we don't need the whole section. Just the front page.

Note: In instances where one staff produces two separately named papers, the entries in the writing and section categories must be made as if it were one paper, and must be made in the larger circulation category.

Please send your entries to:

Jon Styf

Sports Editor

The Beaumont Enterprise

P.O. Box 3071

Beaumont, TX 77704

If you have any questions, please feel free to call Keith Campbell at 214-977-7896 or kcampbell@dallasnews.com. Jon can be reached at 409-838-2839 or jstyf@beaumontenterprise.com.

Dates set for APSE Southwest Region meeting

Josh Barnett — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:13:12 +0000

By Josh Barnett

APSE Regions committee chair

The APSE Southwest Region meeting will be returning to San Antonio, where it was held in 2010. The dates are Friday and Saturday, July 27-28. It will be held at the Express-news Human Resources Building at 309 North Alamo, across the street from the main Express-News building.

From a scheduling standpoint, the regional meeting falls immediately before the start of the Texas High Schools Coaches Association Convention and Coaching School, which runs July 29 to Aug. 1 in San Antonio.

“We are hoping to craft a program that journalists from both small and large papers will find interesting and informative,” said Southwest Region chair Keith Campbell, deputy sports editor of the Dallas Morning News.

Campbell and region vice chair Jon Styf, sports editor of the Beaumont Enterprise, have several ideas for panels, seminars and sessions, but are seeking input from editors. Contact Campbell at kcampbell@dallasnews.com and Styf at jstyf@beaumontenterprise.com.

More details will be available as they are finalized.

Digital First Media becomes sponsor of APSE’s Diversity Fellowship Program

admin — Fri, 04 May 2012 18:00:24 +0000

Digital First Media has committed a $1,000 sponsorship to APSE's Diversity Fellowship Program, joining The Sporting News as a gold-level sponsor of APSE's sports journalism management training program for women and editors of color.

DFM, based in New York, is the management firm that runs both MediaNews Group, the nation's second-largest media company, and the Journal Register Company. The commitment was made by Editor-in-Chief Jim Brady.

The Diversity Fellowship Program was launched in 2011 by APSE. It is a ninth-month training program designed to prepare mid-career journalists to join or advance in management of sports journalism. The first class of four Fellows is expected to graduate at APSE's summer conference in Chicago in June.

APSE is the major sponsor of the program. Other supporters include Indiana University, which hosts a weekend of academic training, and the Association for Women in Sports Media, which is a bronze-level sponsor.

Kentucky Derby coverage available for free for APSE members

admin — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:47:05 +0000

Two students from the National Sports Journalism Center student news bureau are covering the Kentucky Derby, and their copy is available for use free of charge by APSE members.

APSE has a partnership with Indiana University and the NSJC.

On the move: Ammenheuser set to take over as sports editor in Nashville

Josh Barnett — Wed, 02 May 2012 02:38:34 +0000

By Josh Barnett

Chair, APSE Regions Committee

Executive Sports Editor, Philadelphia Daily News

Dave Ammenheuser describes the Press-Enterprise in Riverside Calif., as the “epicenter of what's happened economically to our industry.”

The assistant managing editor / sports and administration, Ammenheuser has seen staff reductions and a complete change in focus for his department over the last few years, from pro and major college sports to high schools and local colleges.

A chance to get back to directing a staff covering pro and major colleges was among the reasons that Ammenheuser is leaving the Press-Enterprise to become sports editor of the Tennessean in Nashville. He begins May 14.

"I will miss my staff dearly,” he said. “It pains me to leave them. They are not only talented journalists, but great people. “

A few years ago, the paper had a sports staff of 43 with four assistant sports editors.

“ We covered everything in Southern California — the Lakers, the Clippers, USC, UCLA, the Galaxy, Chivas USA, the Ducks, the Kings … we were the only paper in the country covering three Major League Baseball teams (the Dodgers, Angels and Padres),” he said. “Plus, we covered nine Inland colleges and more than 100 high schools.

“Today, we have eight reporters. Many talented staff members, including my four assistants, have been laid off. Our circulation footprint changed, our coverage focus is now entirely on Inland Southern California high schools and local colleges."

Ammenheuser also cited family concerns for the change and the desire for he and his wife to be closer to their parents.

He has been the Press-Enterprise since 2003. Under his leadership, the PE won several national, regional and statewide awards including being named one of The Associated Press Sports Editors Top 10 web sites for two consecutive years; and the Associated Press Sports Editors Top 10 daily sections. The PE was also named one of “10 who do it right” by Editor & Publisher for high school sports coverage.

He initiated the high school sports website at The PE, created award winning multimedia sports packages including “Unbreakables,” a series of all-time Inland Southern California high school recordholders, and oversaw the ethics and social networking committees at the newspaper.

Prior to joining the P-E, he was the sports editor at the New Haven (Conn.) Register, the Rock Hill (S.C.) Herald and the Carroll County (Md.) Times. He began his career a sports writer at The Frederick (Md.) News-Post.

Now, his attention shifts to Tennessee.

“I'm joining a great staff. Outgoing sports editor Larry Taft has set up a strong foundation."

Taft, 62, came to the Tennessean in January 1977 and spent most of 20 years covering preps, which remained a passion until his retirement. He left for 16 months to work at the state high school athletic association, came back when the paper launched its preps web site and worked on the site for several years before returning to sports as an assistant sports editor. He was named sports editor in the summer of 2007.

“I covered a lot of things – they never found anything I could do well,” he joked. That list included University of Tennessee and Vanderbilt football and basketball, a few World Series, bowl games. “I wound up as a fill-in doing Richard Petty’s last NASCAR race, which also happened to be Jeff Gordon’s first Cup race,” he added.

Change in Louisville

Creig Ewing has been named interim sports editor of the Courier-Journal.

He replaces Harry Bryan, who had held the position in 24 of his 36 years at the newspaper before taking the early retirement offer from Gannett in mid-April. Copy editor Roy Walker also took the buyout from the C-J sports staff.

Ewing has been at the C-J since 1998 as an assistant sports editor. He previously had been an assistant at the Orlando Sentinel, where he had been on the sports staff since 1983, as a reporter and editor. He is a graduate of the University of Central Florida.

Elsewhere

Detroit Free Press: Columnist Michael Rosenberg is leaving to become a senior writer at Sports Illustrated. He has worked at the Free Press since 1999. He also has been a featured columnist at FoxSports.com and a contributor to Sports Illustrated. Before working at the Free Press, he worked at the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer and Sacramento Bee. He also is the author of “War As They Knew It,” about the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry in the late 1960s and 1970s.

Arizona Republic: Longtime Arizona sports journalist Jim Gintonio retired from the Arizona Republic in late April. Gintonio joined the staff of the Phoenix Gazette in 1980 where he worked as a news editor, horse racing reporter and media columnist. He moved to the Republic when the two newspapers merged in the late 1990s. His most recent assignment was covering the Phoenix Coyotes. Before coming to Arizona, Gintonio also worked in Lorain, Ohio; Abilene and Lubbock, Texas; and Charleston, W.Va. Also leaving the Republic was online sports producer Brian Manzullo, who has joined the staff of the Detroit Free Press.

Bakersfield Californian: Recently hired copy editor/page designer Nick Lozito, formerly of the Modesto and Sacramento Bees, and most recently employed by the Sacramento River Cats baseball team. He replaces Todd Camps, who left the newspaper industry.

Tallahassee Democrat: Jim Henry has been named assistant sports editor. Henry had been doing freelance work at the paper since March 2011 after spending two years as a senior writer at AOL Fanhouse and three years as a senior writer at 180 Communications. He also has co-authored the book, “Tarnished Heisman.”

The Seattle Times: Two sports news assistants, Donald Dirks and Janelle Wetzstein, left in April to pursue other interests. Dirks, who was hired eight years ago and put together The Seattle Times' agate page for most of that time, plans to return to school and change careers. Wetzstein, a part-timer who recently graduated from the University of Washington, was hired as a reporter by the Petaluma (Calif.) Argus-Courier. Reporter intern Master Tesfatsion, a senior-to-be at Arizona State University, will arrive May 14. The Dallas native covered the San Diego Padres for the San Diego Union-Tribune's spring-training program with ASU, and also interned at ESPN/Dallas. Desk intern Joel Petterson, who graduated in May from the University of Kansas, starts June 11. He also interned at the Kansas City Star and New York Times.

Peninsula Daily News (Port Angeles, Wash): Sports reporter/outdoors columnist Matt Schubert left to become online sports editor for the Lincoln, Neb., daily. The Daily News hired Lee Horton as its new sports reporter/outdoors columnist.

Sandusky (Ohio) Register: Mike Truax is leaving to return to school and spend more time with his family.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Hired J. Brady McCollough from the Kansas City Star for a sports enterprise writing position. McCollough covered the University of Kansas for the Star for the past four years. McCollough is a graduate of the University of Michigan. He replaces Dejan Kovacevic, who left the Post-Gazette for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, where he is the newspaper's lead columnist.

Deadline approaches to purchase White Sox tickets for APSE Chicago convention

admin — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 21:44:14 +0000

An outing at the ballpark to watch the Chicago White Sox play the Milwaukee Brewers is among the activities for this summer's convention in Chicago. Details on how to attend were sent to members in an e-mail from APSE Executive Director Jack Berninger, listed below:

1. Let me know soonest you want tickets (jackapse@aol.com) and how many;

2. Send a check for the purchase price.

Deadline to purchase tickets has been extended to May 4. At that point, we'll have to turn in unwanted tickets.

Tickets are $26 each. The White Sox also offer a Patio Party. The cost for the Patio Party is $63 ($42 for the Patio ticket and a reduced baseball ticket of $21).

Make your check out to APSE for the appropriate amount and send them to:

APSE

PO Box 29743

Richmond, VA 23242

Other conference info:

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

To register for the June 20-23 APSE/AWSM conference in Chicago, go to the following link:

http://apsportseditors.org/convention-registration/

The registration fee is $225 through June 1, $275 thereafter.

HOTEL RESERVATION

To make reservations at the Downtown Chicago Marriott, go to this link:

https://resweb.passkey.com/Resweb.do?mode=welcome_ei_new&eventID=8772456

Our price is $199 per night. Reservation deadline is May 25 at 5 p.m.

Jack Berninger

APSE Executive Director

(804) 741-1565

jackapse@aol.com